DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—Roos International has introduced its Yahgi Natural Grasscloth Wallcovering that is specifically designed for the contract market. The collection name Yahgi is derived from an ancient Chinese tradition meaning “elegant gathering,” which was an informal debate with art rather than words. This new artfully inspired, elegant gathering of grasscloths include: silk screen prints on sisal; hand dyed jutes; and natural weaves in an artistic presentation of various silks, paperweaves, sisals, jutes, textiles, burlaps, woven jutes, reed jutes, and metallic sisals. Given that designers are always on the lookout for sophisticated and original decorative elements, and...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Empire West Inc., the maker of Ceilume Smart Ceiling Tiles & Ceiling Panels, as a Green Product Directory partner. For over 50 years, Ceilume ceiling tiles have been used in homes and businesses around the globe. Empire West recognizes that preserving natural resources by minimizing adverse environmental impacts is vital, and it is committed to providing all of its customers with high quality, environmentally friendly products. Go to Empire West Inc. or call (800) 521-4261 for more information.

DANBURY, CONN.—FuelCell Energy Inc., a leading manufacturer of efficient, ultra-clean power plants using renewable and domestic fuels for commercial and industrial customers, announced that its modular 300-kilowatt (kW) Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant (DFC300MA) has met the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) stringent distributed generation emissions standards for 2007. An earlier model of the DFC300MA, which was capable of producing 250 kW of power, had previously attained this certification. Through the incorporation of an advanced cell stack design, FuelCell Energy achieved a 20 percent increase in power output this past fall which required the plant to be recertified...

LIVERMORE, CALIF.—Drainbo has introduced its non-toxic, chemical-free, and all-natural drain cleaner called Drainbo. Available direct to hotels and restaurants, Drainbo has been specially formulated to keep local water systems, lakes and oceans free of the fats, oils, and greases (FOG) that are increasingly degrading them each and every day. Traditional chemical-laden drain cleaners used by most consumers to clear clogged pipes are among the most hazardous products on the market today, and not just because they pose a grave threat to children and pets if improperly stored. In fact, chemical drain cleaners end up not only corroding drain...

EL CAJON, CALIF.—Artflor Inc. announced the release of Enviro Tile, a new product line of environmentally friendly tiles. The tiles are made in sizes 16” x 16” x ½” and 20” x 20” x ¾” and come in five earthen colors: Arctic, Tideland, Greenland, Rainforest, and Volcanic. Custom colors are available upon request. Artflor’s distinctive manufacturing process allows for unusual textures and multiple inlays of recycled glass and metals. The average recycled content of Artflor Enviro Tile is 34 percent, and packaging uses approximately 80 percent recycled materials. Around 90 percent of raw materials are pulled from local...

NEW YORK—Carnegie, a leading manufacturer and innovator of textiles and wallcoverings, has introduced Surface IQ, a breakthrough wall covering technology. Surface IQ is built from the polymer up, eliminating the hazardous use of vinyl, chlorine, plasticizers, heavy metals, formaldehyde and dioxin. Built on thermoplastic olefin technology (TPO), it delivers both performance and ecology simultaneously, and features the bold colors, striking patterns and rich, subtle textures that the Carnegie name has become synonymous with. Using only water-based inks and coatings, the first Surface IQ collection consists of eight designs including three signature patterns: Bloom, Mix and Intersect. The...

DUNEDIN, FLA.—Temperatures are heating up for the summer season and that can only mean one thing for your property—higher energy costs. To keep your guests and staff cool and content while keeping your energy costs as low as possible, Mintek Mobile Data Solutions recommends the following 10 action steps: 1. Find and seal air leaks that cause drafts and make your cooling system work overtime. Sealing and insulating your building can prevent the loss of cooled air and help save up to 10 percent on your energy bills each year. To ensure a sufficient level of indoor air...

SANTA CLARA, CALIF.—Watt Stopper/Legrand has developed a line of card key switches for hospitality facilities that help hotels stop the energy waste of guestroom lighting being left on when no one is present. Unique in the United States, these switches comply with IECC and ASHRAE/IESNA energy codes which require that hotel guestrooms have a master switch at the entrance of every room. Lights being left on in hotel guestrooms when the rooms are left vacant is a common problem and great source of energy waste. The HS series switches enable or disable power to a select number of...

NEW YORK & BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.—Hilton New York, a prime 1,980-room property of Hilton Hotels Corp. in New York City, has completed the rigging of a PureCell Model 200 Commercial fuel cell power system, one of the cleanest power generating technologies available today. Nearly three times more energy efficient than the electric grid when used in combined heat and power applications, the fuel cell will operate without combustion to continuously provide power and domestic hot water for hotel operations. Hilton New York installed the PureCell system on May 20, 2007, in keeping with New York City Mayor Michael...

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Elevator Communications, LLC as a Green Product Directory Partner. Elevator Communications, based in Tiburon, Calif., specializes in providing public relations services to green hotels and other businesses. Its green hotel clients have received publicity in the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, other major newspapers, Bloomberg, major travel magazines, on TV and radio, and in consumer publications targeted to eco-travelers in the United States. Contact John Reed, director of public relations, at (415) 846-4862 or by e-mail at elevatorpr@earthlink.net. You may also visit www.elevatorpr.com....